Overview
- NASCAR announced Wednesday, Oct. 14 that teams may remove and replace front brake pads and rotors after Saturday practice and qualifying at Phoenix Raceway and that the same flexibility will apply at Martinsville.
- The exception covers only front brake rotors and pads and prohibits changes to other brake components while allowing pre-race inspection of rear rotors with any issues handled case-by-case.
- Cup Series managing director Brad Moran said there is no limit on how many pad changes a team can make under the procedure and that each team must decide whether to use the option.
- NASCAR made the change in response to a string of brake failures this season at Iowa, Nashville and Gateway that series analysis linked to heavier braking loads from the 750-horsepower, reduced-downforce package.
- The policy is an uncommon carve-out from normal impound rules and builds on an existing allowance to replace damaged rotors since 2022 while giving teams a practical way to try to avoid mechanical DNFs and protect drivers contending in the playoffs.